Alarm mechanism



A. C. ROWLEY ALARM MECHANISM Feb. 28, 1928.

Filed Oct so. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Febf28, "192s.

, 1,661,050 A. c. ROWLEY ALARM MECHANISM Filed Oct. 30, 1923 s sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

nrmm c. BOWLEY, or PHILADELPHIA, PEN SYLVANIA,

ASSIGNOB T0 eLonnfAu'ro- MATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNsYLvANIA, A CORPORA- TION 0P PEN sY vANIA.

ALARM MECHANISM.

Application filed October so, 1923. Serial No. 671,775

This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the flow of water froma fire extinguishing system to an alarm mechanism and has as one of its objects the provisioncf a relatively simple and substantial device which upon opening of a main alarm valve shall cause or permit such a flow of water to the alarm apparatus as will maintain a constant alarm with a relatively small discharge of water from the system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of alarm mechanism wherein the water for operating the .alarm device or apparatus shall be taken from the sprinkler- 0r delivery-side of an alarmvalve with the advan- 'tage that under operating conditions the mechanism has an effect upon the system similar to that caused by or due to the opening of an additional sprinkler head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alarm mechanism in which the valve controlling the flow of water to the alarm apparatus will close only when the pressure in the receiving chamber has fallen to zero, and in which the arrangement is such that under conditions of operation there shall be no chattering or vibratory action of the valve controlling the flow of water tothe alarm apparatus. I I y H I also desire to provide mechanism of the above noted class which shall be of such a natureas to be incapable of causing intermittent alarms althoughit shall insure a constant alarm with a relatively small amount of water escaping or delivered from the system. i I

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which, I I

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in vertical section and to some extent diagrammatic,

illustrating an alarm mechanism arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2- 2, Fig.1 onan enlarged scale, illustrating the detail construction of the flow controlling device constructed in accordance with my invention; and, I Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in 3 vertical section on theline 3-3, Fig.

In the above drawings, 1 represents an alarmyalve of any suitable or desired con? struction having aninlet 2 connected to a water supply system and an outlet 3 connected to the sprinkler pipe or riser of a sprinlrler system. Within and forming part of this valve is a clapper 4 normally closed to cut oil communication between its inlet and outlet and having connected to or formed as part of it, an arm 5 carrying an auxiliary clapper 6. The latter is designed to normally close an inlet from the upper part of the alarm valve to a conduit 7 and the arrangement is such that said auxiliary valve maintains said inlet closed as long as themain clapper 4 remains seated. Unseating of said main clapper 4 likewise causesunseating of the aurnl ary clapper 6 and permits flow of water into the conduit 7. Saidconduit, in accordance with my invention, is connected to a flow controlling device which includes a chamber 8 Whose otherwise open lower side or bottom is closed by a diaphragm, 9. The upper part of this chamber includes a partltion 10 forming a relatively small receivin chamber 11 into which the conduit 7 is directly connected. This partition hasthrough it a passage in which is mounted a relative restricted nozzleor orifice-member 12, coaxial with which is a screen 13 held in place by a removable plu 14 threaded into the side of the casing. 'Fhe arran ement is such that water passing from conduit 7 through the receiving chamber ll to the nozzle 12 is necessarily compelled to pass through the screen so that foreign matter Which might otherwise clog said nozzle is effectually excluded. y

The diaphragm 9 is clam d against the flanged lower face of the c amber 8, by a ring 15 held in place by suitable bolts and the lower face of said'ring has a'second diaphragm 16 clamped against it by the flanged edge of a second chamber 17. This latter is clamped to the ring in any suitable manner as by bolts and has connected to its side a COIIdUIt 18'lead1ng from the upper or delivfixed portion of the casing by a pin 23 and having a projecting arm 24:. Said valve is preferably made in the form of a sleeve-like end. The latter has a central, downwardly projecting portion designed to engage a piston-like element 26 'slidably mounted in said sleeve structure and confined therein by the flange thereof. Said element has a flat lower face designed to engage and normally close the opening into the seat structure 21. This piston-like valve element 26 is slidably mounted in its supporting structure and is designed to make a liquid-tight fit with the seat 21, there being a passage 27 through the plug 25 whereby water under pressure is admitted to the upper face of said valve element. Between the two diaphragms 9 and 16' ismounted a flanged spacer 28 through which extends a bolt-like member 29 having a post 30 projecting from its lower end in such positionlas to engage the arm 24 when the valve 22 is closed and the diaphragms are in their upwardly bowed or normal positions. The diaphragm 9 has in it a relatively small hole 31 designed to drain waterout of the chamber 8 into the space hetweenthe diaphragms and this space through a passage 32 is connected to a waste pipe 33 allowing free escape of any. water entering said space.

Under normal conditions when the alarm valve 1 is closed, water fills the conduit 18 and also the chamber 17. The chamber 8, however, is empty, since the auxiliary clapper 6 normally cuts off water from conduit 7. Upon opening of one or more of the sprinklers of the fire extinguishing system connected to the outlet 3 of the alarm valve, there is a flow of water through said valve which causes opening of the main clapper at.

' This at once causes opening of the auxiliary clapper 6 and permits flow of water through the conduit 7 to the receiving chamber 11 and to the chamber 8. \Vhen under the conditions noted, Water enters said chamber 8 more quickly than it can drain out through the hole 31 (as is the case when the clapper 4 is open), it fills said chamber within a definite time after the sprinkler has opened and ultimately exerts on the dia phragm 9 suilicient pressure to overcome the upward pressure exerted upon the diaphragm 16 by the water in the chamber 17. Said twoidiaphragms thereupon move downwardly, causing the post 30 to act on the arm 24 and open valve 22. \Vater is now 7 free to flow from the delivery side of the by be operated.

alarm valve through the conduit 18 into the chamber 17 and thence through the conduit 20 to the alarm apparatus which will there- It is obvious that this flow will continue as long as the main clapper 4 remains open and hence as long as there is tinuous and it is to be noted that such flow has the same bleeding effect upon the system as would the opening of an additional sprinkler head. Upon cessation of flow through the alarm valve, the main clapper 4 as well as the auxiliary clapper 6 will automatically return to their seated positions, so that flow of water through the conduit 7 to the chamber 8 is cut on. As a consequence, the water in said chamber quickly escapes through theopening 31 into the drain pipe 33, whereupon the pressure of water in the chamber 17 causes the diaphragms9 and 16 to be moved upwardly and permits closure of the valve 22, with a consequent stoppage of the water flow to the alarm apparatus. Obviously, if the opening of the main clapper 4 is intermittent or of merely a temporary nature, the water delivered to the chamber 8 by the resultant opening of the auxiliary valve 16 drains away through the hole 31 before, it can accumulate above the diaphragm in sulficient quantity to cause opening of the valve 22. The device, therefore, is not likely to cause operation of the alarm apparatus except when one or more sprinkler heads has opened.

As shown 1n Fig. 3, I preferably provide access may be had to the valve 22 and post 30. Said post is preferably threaded into the bolt-like member 29 so as to be con veniently adjustable, to permit closure, of the valve 22 when the diaphragms are in their upper positions.

I claim:

l. The combination of a flow controlling device comprising two chambers having a movable wall between them; a valve actuated by movement of said wall for controlling flow from one of the chambers to an alarm device; an alarm valve; a conduit connecting said chamber with the delivery side of said alarm valve; and a conduit from the other chamber having its inlet controlled by the clapper of the alarm valve.

2. The combination of an alarm valve including a main clapper and an auxiliary valve movable with the said clapper; a flow controlling device comprising a chamber in the clapper thereof and a flow-controlling 4. The combination of an alarm valve in- 15 device comprising a casing having two main chambers and an auxiliary chamber connected through a restricted orifice to one of said chambers; a conduit normally closed by the auxiliary valve and connected to deliver water to the auxiliary chamber of said casing; at least one diaphragm between the main chambers of the casing; a conduit con necting the second of the main chambers with the delivery side of the alarm valve; with a normally closed valve controllin flow from said second chamber and governe by the diaphragm.

eluding a main clapper and an auxiliary valve movable with said clapper; a flow controlling device comprising a chamber having a discharge port and a relatively small inlet port; a duct placing said inlet port in free communication with the delivery side of the alarm valve; a discharge valve controlling the discharge port; a conduit through which the flow is controlled by said auxiliary valve and means actuated by fluid from said conduit for operating the said discharge valve.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY. 

